Impact Report - Annual Review - 2004/2005
NCVO looks back at the year 2004-05, what we set out to achieve, and whether or not we succeeded in meeting these targets.
Download the impact report (PDF 1.94Mb)
Contents
- Introduction
- Our members
- Aims and achievements
- Our organisation
- Financial highlights
- Who's who at NCVO
- Membership
- Acknowledgements
Introduction
It's time to recognise how important the voluntary and community sector is to the moral, democratic and physical health of this country.
More than ever, we need to assert our values and make ourselves heard.
This impact report looks back at the year 2004-2005, and reminds us of what we set out to achieve and reports back on whether or not we succeeded in meeting these targets. It also gives us the opportunity to look at what we hope to achieve in the coming year and these goals are summarised in this report. Key to all of this is NCVO's new strategic agenda which was launched in September 2005.
This year we undertook a far-reaching consultation with our members, the wider sector, key opinion formers and others. These discussions set our strategic agenda for the next ten years and helped us revise our vision, mission and values to focus on the challenges ahead. A declaration of our new vision, mission and values is on the previous pages of this report.
At the same time, we have produced a number of key reports on the state of the sector. We believe that, more than ever, society needs a strong, diverse and vibrant civil society that balances the individualising power of the market and the over-controlling nature of the state.
In The Reform of Public Services: the role of the voluntary sector, we examined the growing opportunity to shape and deliver public services. We argued that it should complement but not displace the crucial role of providing independent advocacy, campaigning and support. This theme was explored further in Civil Renewal and Active Citizenship: a guide to the debate - an introduction to the complexities of an issue central to the mission of many voluntary and community sector organisations.
This year also saw the formation of the national hubs of expertise for the voluntary sector. As the hubs are now establishing themselves, NCVO continues to work in partnership with a range of organisations to support and develop their work. We look forward to them delivering a range of crucial resources to the sector.
Finally, you may also have noticed that with a new strategic agenda comes a fresh new image for the organisation. We hope it successfully represents and encapsulates NCVO's enthusiasm and commitment to our members and the sector.
I have occupied the Chair for 18 months and in that time have seen so much change, both in the organisation and in the wider voluntary and community sector, to know that our biggest challenges will be to keep pace with the momentum of this change and to continue to help shape its direction. It is these challenges that I am confident the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive, his management team and NCVO's staff will be equal to and for that, as the new 'kid on the block', I am profoundly grateful.
So I present this impact report with great hope for the future. I have every faith that NCVO can continue to serve the sector over the next 10 years and beyond.
Sir Graham Melmoth
Chair, NCVO
"We believe it's important to be part of a strong voluntary sector, and therefore value our NCVO membership."
Clara MacKay, Director Policy and Research, Breast Cancer Care
Our members
As a result of work over the last year and following on from our extensive consultation with our members, we are enhancing our membership packages.
Our three new membership packages, which complement our existing packages, are tailored to meet the needs of small and large voluntary organisations working in the sector.
Community membership
An electronic version of membership for very small organisations with a gross annual income of less than £10,000 - FREE OF CHARGE
Community Plus membership
A tailored package of benefits for small organisations with a gross annual income of less than £50,000 - at a cost of £40 per year.
Membership Extra
An enhanced package with benefits tailored to the needs of large organisations who want additional benefits and more networking opportunities - at a cost of £1000 per year.
These brand new membership packages are designed to ensure that we are representative of the sector and can feed in the views of all organisations - no matter how big or small. We understand that it is small organisations that often need the most support, advice and information and our community membership offers just that. As well as providing a range of exclusive benefits to our Membership Extra members, their contributions will help to subsidise the cost of offering free membership to very small organisations who would not otherwise be in a position to access our services.
"As the head of a local organisation providing frontline services, I value the support and sense of community that being part of NCVO provides. Membership also saves me time and my organisation money allowing us to do what we do better."
Satish Shah, Coordinator, Oshwal Elderly Welfare Association
Our members' profile
| Region | Percentage of NCVO members based in region |
|---|---|
| London | 38% |
| South East | 14% |
| Eastern | 9% |
| South West | 8% |
| North West | 8% |
| West Midlands | 7% |
| Yorkshire & Humberside | 7% |
| East Midlands | 6% |
| North East | 3% |
| Membership Band | Percentage of NCVO members in band |
|---|---|
| Band A (less than £100,000) | 23% |
| Band B (£100,000-£500,000) | 47% |
| Band C (£500,000-£1 million) | 10% |
| Band D (£1 million-£5 million) | 13% |
| Band E (over £5 million) | 7% |
"When NCVO opened up their membership to local organisations we took the opportunity to gain a national perspective and receive first hand relevant information, especially around briefing papers on government legislation, regional, and rural issues."
Julie Mayo, Executive Manager, Dacorum CVS
Aims and Achievements
NCVO fulfils its mission by undertaking a wide variety of activities covering a diverse range of topics. We work with, and for, the voluntary and community sector in England by providing information, advice and support and by representing the views of the sector to government and policy-makers.
Advisory services and information
Our advisory and information services provide over half of the voluntary sector workforce with the tools they need to run more effective organisations benefiting their service users. NCVO strives to continue developing these services to reach the maximum number of people working within the sector; through a range of different channels and by tailoring our services to meet different people's information needs.
Last year's aims included:
- To contribute to developing partnerships to create national hubs of expertise in funding, governance, performance improvement, ICT and workforce development.
ACHIEVED - we have been closely involved as a lead partner in the shaping and development of the hubs of expertise on ICT, Workforce Development, Trustee & Governance and Sustainable Funding; and work directly in partnership with the hubs of Performance Improvement and Volunteering. - Establish a collaborative working unit, supporting organisations that work, or wish to work, in collaboration with each other.
ACHIEVED - our collaborative working unit was successfully launched in October 2004 and now provides practical information and advice to help organisations make informed decisions on whether, and how to, work collaboratively. - Establish a performance improvement unit in partnership with the Charities Evaluation Services and the Centre for Voluntary Action Research at Aston University providing services to the voluntary and community sector.
ACHIEVED - our performance improvement unit distributed over 3000 copies of its publications, provided one-toone advice and signposting and ran a conference for organisations to improve their understanding of quality systems. - Develop a three year programme of work looking at human resources in the voluntary and community sector, including mapping how local, regional and national infrastructure agencies currently provide advice on human resource issues.
ACHIEVED - our report A Stitch in Time showed that infrastructure rarely has the resources to provide good up to date advice on HR issues. This is driving our work for the next two years. - Develop good practice guidelines on performance improvement in infrastructure organisations.
ACHIEVED - in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, the PERFORM project developed an outcomes-based planning and assessment framework for infrastructure organisations; and began in-depth piloting which continues into 2005-06. - Develop e-learning courses for the partnerships online community covering partnership work skills.
ACHIEVED - with courses now available on the ourpartnerships.org.uk website.
"As a small local voluntary organisation we can benefit from the unity of belonging to a national umbrella organisation and we look forward to the support and advice that NCVO can offer us."
Peter Bull, Chair of Walton Youth Project (3000th member of NCVO)
And this year we also:
- Increased our voluntary sector membership from 3,534 to 3,746. In addition, NCVO now boasts the support of 96 corporate affiliates and 29 public sector affiliates.
- Published Making Equality Simple both online and as a printed book - a free publication about diversity in the workplace with over 1000 copies distributed.
- Published Fruitful Funding, a comprehensive guide aimed at funders exploring engagement with the voluntary sector.
Our aims for the coming year include:
- Continuing to work with the hubs of expertise, develop their services and promote their work including launching websites, HelpDesk services and printed materials.
- Enhancing NCVO's range of member benefits, especially to smaller organisations, and promoting this throughout the sector to ensure that all organisations have easy access to NCVO's expertise and advice.
- Developing NCVO's web services to include online discussion forums for NCVO's networks and the Directory of NCVO Approved Consultants to be published online.
Overall, a quarter of NCVO members use NCVO's HelpDesk. Users were extremely happy with all aspects of the service they were questioned about. All features (of the NCVO website) were deemed to be useful by over 90% of the groups who used it. (MORI, 2005)
"Thanks, and please pass on a very BIG thank you to your team in lobbying for an extension regarding the Defra consultation - as a team on one of the rural issues I was manically communicating with colleagues in the regions and our members to get their views whilst thinking that the issue of 'fair', 'unbiased' and 'reflective' comment would be impossible in such a short time."
In response to NCVO's success in lobbying Defra to extend the timescale for their consultation on 'Modernising Rural Delivery'.
Campaigns and publicity
Our campaigns and publicity work involves developing and implementing
campaigns which influence policy and practice to benefit the entire sector.
We use a range of strategies to influence our target audiences, opinion
formers and decision makers.
Last year's aims included:
- To create a modern and effective legal and regulatory environment for the sector through a new Charities Act.
PARTLY ACHIEVED - we campaigned and lobbied hard with parliamentarians on the Charities Bill, leading a high profile coalition which provided key evidence to the scrutiny committee to ensure the Bill reflects the needs of the sector. - To ensure that European Parliament candidates are aware of voluntary and community sector issues in the lead up to the June 2004 elections and beyond.
ACHIEVED - we worked with a range of partners to develop an EU election manifesto, used to identify supportive MEPs and to progress key EU public policy concerns. - To ensure that, through proposed primary legislation, the new distributor for lottery grant dispersal preserves and protects a number of key principles.
ACHIEVED - we campaigned, and continue to campaign robustly, with parliamentarians and in the media to ensure that the Lottery Bill reflects the needs of the sector. - To improve relationships within the voluntary and community sector and between the sector and government through the effective implementation of the Compact Advocacy Programme and the policy and practice changes it seeks.
ACHIEVED - we successfully represented voluntary and community sector organisations in 25 compact advocacy cases.
And this year we also:
- Redesigned and relaunched VS (formerly Voluntary Sector), our monthly magazine, to critical acclaim, ensuring it continues to be written for the sector, by the sector.
Our aims for the coming year include:
- Launching phase two of the Compact Advocacy Programme, including producing a range of publicity material and to extend compact advocacy at a local government level.
- Achieving positive change in policy and practice at local level in relation to Local Compact compliance and continued improvement at a national level.
- Continuing to build relationships at European level with MEPs and European Commissioners; and to enable more effective campaigning.
- Implementing an international strategy which will ensure that NCVO is making a significant contribution to developing civil society globally.
"NCVO plays a vital role in representing the sector and campaigning on issues which affect us all. At United Response we really value the support and intelligence which NCVO membership provides."
Diane Lightfoot, Director of Communications & Fundraising, United Response
Education and training
We are committed to providing the sector with opportunities for learning and improving skills including publishing a range of materials and providing conferences and events which encourage networking, knowledge sharing and development of best practice.
Last year's aims included:
- Continue to provide relevant, accessible events and publications to help organisations achieve the highest standards of practise and effectiveness.
ACHIEVED - we reworked our popular Good Guide series with a comprehensive update to the Good Campaigns Guide and a new Good Membership Guide; and provided a range of titles and events aimed at the development of trustees and governors including Recruiting a New Chief Executive and The Chair's First 100 days. We also received the highest satisfaction levels ever for the annual conference 2005 and the 'shared world' theme was well received. - Continue to evaluate and review the mechanisms we use to deliver our services to ensure they are the most relevant and efficient ways of improving effectiveness in the sector.
ACHIEVED - we carried out extensive research on satisfaction with our services by members and other customers achieving a consistently high rating for our products and services.
"Pass on my congratulations for what I found to be a very interesting and useful conference. I found both the subject matter and the discussions of use in my work."
Alan Smith, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, on the 10th Researching the Voluntary Sector conference, September 2004.
And this year we also:
- Leased a new building, naming it Birchall House, in recognition of our founder, increasing our ability to offer excellent conferencing facilities to our members.
Our aims for the coming year include:
- To continue to strive to ensure that our events are relevant, topical and accessible to our members.
- To develop NCVO's range of publications ensuring that they meet the needs of our members and are accessible to the widest possible audience.
- To continue to ensure we understand our members' needs and that our services are adapted and developed appropriately.
"It was great to spend time with so many energised, experienced and committed people."
Feedback from 2004 NCVO Annual Conference"NCVO is an invaluable resource for a growing and learning infrastructure organisation like ours that provides support to local BME communities."
Charles Boustany, Company Secretary, Black and Minority Ethnic Community Partnership (BMECP)
Policy
In consultation with our members and the wider sector we formulate and develop policy positions on key issues affecting the sector. Our policy is evidence based and represents the views and experiences of our members. We work both reactively - by responding to government or other bodies - and proactively - by highlighting those issues which are most important and relevant at that time.
Last year's aims included:
- Develop work on local government issues, helping to improve relationships between the voluntary and community sector and local government.
ACHIEVED - we developed a Local Ideals project focusing on working relationships between the public and voluntary and community sector - gaining widespread local government and sector support. - Monitor, brief and, where appropriate, seek amendments to the Charities Bill and on changes to the lottery as they progress to legislation.
ACHIEVED - we provided considerable input to the scrutiny committee to ensure that the Charities Bill reflects the needs of the sector and we briefed the sector and responded to consultations on proposals for the new lottery distributor to ensure that key principles of additionality and sustainability are not lost. - Assess the impact of the Treasury cross-cutting review recommendations in relation to public service delivery on voluntary and community organisations.
ACHIEVED - we worked with the National Audit Office to ensure the views of the sector have informed their review of the government's implementation of the cross-cutting review. - Consider the implications of public service delivery and the role of the voluntary and community sector.
ACHIEVED - we developed further analysis on the role of the sector in public service reform and published reports on civil renewal and public service delivery.
And this year we also:
- Completed research into the impact of regionalisation on rural voluntary and community organisations.
Our aims for the coming year include:
- Continuing to develop understanding and partnership between local government and the voluntary and community sector.
- Ensuring that Charity Law reform is fully implemented and the sector is aware of the implications of the reform.
- Ensuring that the Big Lottery Fund operates in the interests of the wider voluntary and community sector.
- Enabling the needs, concerns and interests of voluntary organisations operating in rural areas to be addressed.
Over three-quarters of respondents thought NCVO was effective in representing the views of the voluntary and community sector to government. Four-fifths of respondents are aware of NCVO policy resources. The most frequently used are policy briefings, public policy updates, and the policy pages on NCVO's websites. 98% of service users use the policy updates and briefings as 'a source of information'.
MORI, 2005
"NCVO membership has been excellent value for us as a small and growing organisation. We have secured low cost IT resources and benefited from a ready advice line on governance issues."
Jill Howes, Finance Worker, MOSAIC Black and Mixed Parentage Family Group
Research
NCVO's research involves a long-term programme of work providing both qualitative and quantitative evidence and information on the sector. In turn this informs our other work and promotes a better understanding of the sector and its activities to our members and beyond.
Last year's aims included:
- To develop further reports based on our Voluntary Sector Almanac - NCVO's key research publication on the UK voluntary sector - broken down by regional and subsectoral themes.
PARTLY ACHIEVED - we published an East London Almanac to complement the two previous editions. We were unable to secure funding for the sub-sectoral themed report but are taking this work forward through our civil society almanac. - Develop the foresight environmental analysis into a practical planning toolkit to help organisations improve strategic planning.
ACHIEVED - we published Tools for Tomorrow, a guide to strategic planning, which sold out on its first print run. - Further develop work on the accountability and legitimacy of the voluntary and community sector in order to promote public trust and confidence and to enhance the sector's independence.
PARTLY ACHIEVED - we carried out work on trust and participation and folded this in with our work on civil renewal which will be published in 2006. - Work with the National Audit Office to assess the impact of the crosscutting review.
ACHIEVED - we undertook a research programme for the National Audit Office audit of the cross-cutting review.
And this year we also:
- Supported the development of GuideStar UK, including chairing its User Committee.
- Ran a highly successful Researching the Voluntary Sector conference, cohosted with Voluntary Sector Services Network.
Our aims for the coming year include:
- To increase public understanding of the dynamics of the voluntary and community sector economy and its paid workforce.
- Ensuring that all of NCVO's campaigns, policy and practice is underpinned by robust research.
"I am writing to you to express my thanks for NCVO's pivotal role in researching the voluntary and community sector in East London. The resulting publication, Empowering East London, researching the contribution of the voluntary sector has been a massive step forward for the credibility and status of groups in Tower Hamlets."
Jez Reeve, CEO, Community Organisations Forum"Marie Curie Cancer Care has been an NCVO member for the last ten years. During this time we have valued the leadership and expertise that NCVO has provided in bringing together the views and interests of the voluntary sector."
Tom Hughes-Hallet, Chief Executive, Marie Curie Cancer Care
Our Organisation
Last year's aims included:
- Achieve the Positive About Disabled People and Louder Than Words standards and improve building signage for those with visual impairment, to demonstrate NCVO's commitment to the organisation being accessible to all.
ACHIEVED - we achieved the Positive About Disabled People standard and undertook our first evaluation on the road to gaining RNID's Louder than Words Charter. - Develop and improve the management, accessibility and use of our data.
ACHIEVED - we began a data management project assessing our current use and storage of data; and establishing clear goals for improvement and development over the coming year. - Introduce an environmental policy.
ACHIEVED - we developed and approved an environmental policy which is now fully implemented.
Over the last year NCVO also:
- Retained the Investors in People standard.
- Our aims for the coming year include:
- Measure staff satisfaction.
- Retain the Investors in People standard.
- Develop a Volunteers Policy.
- Introduce a Whistleblowing Policy.
- Continue to work towards achieving RNID's Louder than Words Charter.
"As I was reading it (NCVO Social Capital Report) I found myself saying aloud that what she was writing about was exactly what our homegrown group, Village Voices, has been doing since its formation some four years ago. The content mirrors what we stand for exactly. Until now we had no idea that we were in the business of 'social capital'. We simply believed that what we have been doing is right when it comes to valuing and supporting our community's vital spirit. It's good to know that others agree."
Project Coordinator, Village Voices Project, Drimpton, West Dorset
Financial highlights
Copies of the full audited financial statements can be obtained from:
The Company Secretary, NCVO, Regent's Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL.
| Financial year | Total incoming resources |
|---|---|
| 2004/2005 | £6,850,000 |
| 2003/2004 | £5,616,000 |
| 2002/2003 | £5,135,000 |
| 2001/2002 | £4,396,000 |
| 2000/2001 | £4,339,000 |
| 1999/2000 | £4,209,000 |
| Source of income | Percentage of total |
|---|---|
| Project grant funding | 34% |
| Earned income | 23% |
| Strategic Home Office grant | 12% |
| Legacy | 6% |
| Membership subscriptions | 11% |
| Other income | 2% |
| Donations via Charities Aid Foundation | 12% |
| Area of expenditure | Percentage of total |
|---|---|
| Advisory services and information | 49% |
| Campaigns and publicity | 19% |
| Cost of generating funds | 9% |
| Education and training | 9% |
| Policy | 8% |
| Research | 4% |
| Management and administration | 2% |
Who's who at NCVO
Governance
Patron
Her Majesty the Queen
President
Baroness Rawlings of Burnham Westgate
Chair
Sir Graham Melmoth
Vice-Chair
Jane Slowey
Honorary Treasurer
David King
Elected Trustees
Koku Adomzda
Eric Appleby
Dr Bhagabat Charan Das
Ray Cowell
Edward Dawson
Erica De'Ath
Helen Dent
Shelagh Diplock OBE
David Emerson
Dominic Fox
Kate Housden
Jonathan Isaac
Clyde Job
Graeme King
Ray Kipling
Pippa Langford
David Locke
Jonathan Moore
Doreen Osbourne
Karin Pappenheim
Heather Petch
Margaret Talbot
Mike Tichelar
Gill Tishler
Diana Warwick
Co-opted Trustees
John Knight
Clare Thomas
Ex-officio Trustees
Stephen Ainger
Graham Benfield OBE
Lord Cairns
Tom Jones OBE
Seamus McAleavey
Anne O'Reilly
Martin Sime
Joan Stringer
Staff
Chief Executive
Stuart Etherington
Director of Planning and Resources
Catherine Wood
Head of Central Services - Tracy Kiernan
Head of Finance - Oliver Sladen
Head of HR - Barbara Waugh
Head of IT - Simon Bishop
Head of Information and Publications - Emma Moore
Director of Public Policy
Campbell Robb
Head of Campaigns and Communications - Chris Stalker
Head of Policy - Ann Blackmore
Head of Research - Karl Wilding
Director of Services and Development
Ben Kernighan
Head of Membership and Marketing - Martin Nee
Head of Partnerships - Elizabeth Ladimeji
Head of Performance Improvement - Richard Piper
Head of Sustainable Funding - Claire Glossop
Head of Trustee and Governance - Vacant
Head of Workforce and Skills - Janet Fleming
Head of ICT - Nicky Thompson
Membership
See the full list of NCVO members
"National bodies such as NCVO can help communities in two ways. Firstly, by supporting organisations such as RCHP that work at grassroots level with local people with the practical advice and services they provide. Secondly, by ensuring that the broader issues that communities are tackling are being given a profile at a national level."
Sarah Hunter, Riverside Community Health Project (2000th Member of NCVO)
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank our many supporters, funders, sponsors and partners, whose help enables us to deliver a wide range of services and effectively to represent voluntary and community organisations' interests.
Abbey
Associa
Baker Tilly
Bank of England
Barclays Bank
Baring Foundation
Big Lottery Fund
Bridge House Trust
C3 Imaging
CentrePoint Software
Centrica plc
Ceridian Centrefile
Charity Bank
Charity Business
Charity Finance
Charity People and Forum3
Class Telecommunications
City Centre for Charity
Effectiveness, Cass Business School
Comet Business Services
Co-Operative Bank plc
Countryside Agency
Department of Trade and Industry
Entec
Experian Intact
Financial Times
Friends Provident
GBS Corporate Training
Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
Guardian
Society Guardian
Harbottle and Lewis
Hay Group Management Consultants
HBOS
Home Office Active Community
Directorate
ICON Business Systems
Infoworks
InterQuad
Keegan and Pennykid
Lloyds TSB Foundation for England
and Wales
LSI
Microsoft
National Audit Office
Nationwide Building Society
Phoenix Software
ProspectUs
Provident Financial plc
Publishing Training Centre
Pugh Computers
Qualifications and Curriculum
Authority
Scouloudi Foundation
Sector Skills Development Agency
ShareGift
Sophos
Symantec
The Consortium
Triodos Bank
UBS AG
Vodafone UK Foundation
XKO
Zurich Community Trust
"As a small organisation, being a member of NCVO provides me with a good link into what is happening in the sector without me having to spend time I haven't got researching it."
Rebecca Long, Director, Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust"It's good to be linked to a national body that lobbies and engages in policy debates with central government on behalf of its members."
Bryan Teixeira, Director, Naz Project London
